Table 1 Databases and cost components used in the calculation of health system costs before, during, and after cancer treatment

Ontario Health Insurance Plan and (OHIP)

Contains claims paid by OHIP for services provided by all eligible health care providers, including physicians, groups, and laboratories.

• Outpatient physician visits

• Laboratory services

• Non-physician services

National Ambulatory Care and Reporting System

Contains data from hospital- and community-based ambulatory care services, including day surgery, outpatient clinics, and emergency departments.

• Emergency department visits

• Dialysis visits

• Oncology clinic visits

Discharge Abstract Database

Contains information on patient separations, notably:

• clinical data (diagnoses, procedures)

• administrative data (institution information, admission type, length of stay, disposition)

• resource consumption, defined using case-mix groups and resource intensity weight

• Inpatient hospitalizations

Client Agency Program Enrolment

Registry of patients enrolled in a primary care model. Data elements include program type (family health team, family health organization, family health network, etc.) and patient enrolment status.

• Capitation costs

Ontario Drug Benefit and (ODB)

Contains claims for prescription drugs covered under the ODB program. Primarily includes drug claims for individuals 65 years of age and older, but also coverage under special ODB programs.

• Medication use

National Rehabilitation and Reporting System

Contains client data from adult inpatient rehabilitation facilities, such as

• administrative data (referral, admission, and discharge);

• health and functional characteristics;

• activities and participation (activities of daily living, communication level, social interaction); and

• intervention information.

• Rehabilitation admissions

Continuing Care and Reporting System

Contains information about residents receiving facility-based continuing care services. Range of services includes complex continuing care, extended or chronic care, and residential care providing nursing services (that is, long-term care).

• Complex continuing care admissions and long-term care

Home Care Database

Captures information on all services provided or coordinated by Ontario Community Care Access Centres, including client data, intake and assessment information, admission and discharge, diagnosis and procedures, and care delivery.

• Home care services

Ontario Mental Health and Reporting System

Contains data on patients in adult designated inpatient mental health beds in acute and psychiatric facilities. Data elements include admission and discharge information, diagnoses, service utilization or intervention and procedures.

• Mental health admissions

Assistive Devices Program

Contains data on Ontario residents with long-term disability receiving personalized assisted devices to support basic needs, such as insulin pumps and supplies, home oxygen, and respiratory and ventilator equipment.

• Assistive devices